Javi Gracia has been announced as Watford's new head coach after the departure of Marco Silva.

The Spaniard has signed an 18-month deal at Vicarage Road and his appointment comes less than nine hours after Silva's departure was announced.

Gracia will be tasked with guiding Watford clear of the relegation zone and is expected to have players added to his squad over the next ten days.

He will meet the players and take training for the first time tomorrow and his first game will be the FA Cup fourth round match at Southampton, before a trip to Stoke City in the Premier League on transfer deadline day.

Gracia's best spell in his career so far came at Malaga, where he guided them eighth and ninth placed finishes in his two seasons there, although he did oversee promotions at Cadiz and Almeria.

His most recent job was at Rubin Kazan in Russia and he left after one season, with the language barrier a factor in the decision. Gracia speaks fluent English, however.